Structural member

Abstract

A structural member includes a first meshing element having two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement wherein a space between the prisms defines a first meshing element engagement cavity. Each prism in the first meshing element is connected to an adjacent prism via an arm of a hinge disposed intermediate the prisms. The structural member includes a second meshing element having two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement where a space between the prisms defines a second meshing element engagement cavity. Each prism in the second meshing element is connected to an adjacent prism via an arm of a hinge disposed intermediate the prisms. A prism of the second meshing element is configured to be retained in a first meshing element engagement cavity and wherein a prism of the first meshing element is configured to be retained in a second meshing element engagement cavity such that the first and second meshing elements are movable into locking engagement and each meshing element extends substantially parallel to the other.

1 . A structural member comprising:
 a first meshing element having two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement wherein a space between the two prisms defines a first meshing element engagement cavity, each prism in the first meshing element being connected to an adjacent prism via an arm of a hinge disposed intermediate the prisms;   a second meshing element having two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement wherein a space between the two prisms defines a second meshing element being connected to an adjacent prism via an arm of a hinge disposed intermediate the prisms; and   a prism of the second meshing element is configured to be retained in a first meshing element engagement cavity and a prism of the first meshing element is configured to be retained in a second meshing element engagement cavity such that the first and second meshing elements are movable into locking engagement and each meshing element extends substantially parallel to the other.   
   
   
       2 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the first meshing element includes at least three prisms in a side-by-side arrangement providing at least two first meshing element engagement cavities and the second meshing element includes at least two prisms providing at least one second meshing element engagement cavity, each prism of the second meshing element configured for locking engagement in adjacent first meshing element engagement cavities. 
   
   
       3 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the prisms in the first and second meshing elements are connected to an adjacent prism by a pair of spaced apart hinges. 
   
   
       4 . A structural member according to  claim 2  wherein the prisms of the first and second meshing elements have substantially the same shape and when the first and second meshing elements are moved into locking engagement the structural member is substantially planar. 
   
   
       5 . A structural member according to  claim 2  wherein the prisms of the first meshing element are of a different shape than the prisms of the second element and when the first and second elements are locked together the structural member is contoured. 
   
   
       6 . A structural member according to  claim 2  wherein two or more prisms of the first meshing element are of a different shape to each other and two or more of the prisms of the second meshing element are of a different shape to each other and when the first and second elements are moved into locking engagement the structural member is not substantially planar. 
   
   
       7 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein each arm of each hinge is integral with a prism. 
   
   
       8 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein hinges are formed from a resilient strip-like material that is movable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the strip. 
   
   
       9 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein ends of the first and second meshing elements are configured to be locked together. 
   
   
       10 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the prisms are periodically spaced along the first and second meshing elements. 
   
   
       11 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein hinges in the first and second meshing elements are disposed along a centerline between the prisms of the elements. 
   
   
       12 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein each prism is hollow and formed from an assembly of prism components. 
   
   
       13 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second meshing elements are designed to be rolled up when disengaged from each other. 
   
   
       14 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second meshing elements include a plurality of prisms and ends of the first and second meshing elements are connected together to form a closed loop. 
   
   
       15 . A structural member according to  claim 14  wherein the second meshing element include a plurality of discrete prisms. 
   
   
       16 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the first and/or second meshing elements include at least two types of hinges interconnecting spaced apart prisms. 
   
   
       17 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the first and/or second meshing elements include at least three hinges not equi-spaced between prisms. 
   
   
       18 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein the prisms have a non-constant cross-section. 
   
   
       19 . A structural member comprising:
 a first meshing element composed of at least one sheet of material selected from the group consisting of fibreboard, plastics material, and sheet metal, the first meshing element being folded to form at least two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, a space between the prisms defines a first meshing element engagement cavity, each prism in the first meshing element being connected to an adjacent prism;   a second meshing element composed of at least one sheet of fibreboard, the second meshing element being folded to form at least two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement wherein a space between the prisms defines a second meshing element engagement cavity, each prism in the second meshing element being connected to an adjacent prism; and   a prism of the second meshing element is designed to be lockingly engaged in a first meshing element engagement cavity and a prism of the first meshing element is designed to be retained in a second meshing element engagement cavity such that the first and second meshing elements are movable into locking engagement and each meshing elements extends substantially parallel to the other.   
   
   
       20 . A structural article according to  claim 19  wherein the prisms of the first and second elements are connected via a connection selected from the group consisting of folds, welds, adhesive and connection means. 
   
   
       21 . A structural article including the structural member according to  claim 19  wherein the at least one sheet defining the first and second meshing elements includes at least one flap and one slot, the slot of the second element configured to be moved into locking engagement with the flap of the first element and the slot of the first element configured to be moved into locking engagement with the flap of the second element. 
   
   
       22 . A structural article according to  claim 19  being a box when the first and second meshing elements are moved into locking engagement and the flaps and slots are interengaged. 
   
   
       23 . A structural member formed from a plurality of components and including:
 a first meshing element having two prisms disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, a space between the prisms defines a first meshing element engagement cavity, each prism in the first meshing element being connected to an adjacent prism via an arm of a hinge disposed intermediate the prisms,   a second meshing element having two prisms each configured for engagement with at least one first meshing element engagement cavity; and   a prism of the second meshing element is configured to be retained in a first meshing element engagement cavity such that the first and second meshing elements are movable into locking engagement and each meshing element extends substantially parallel to the other.   
   
   
       24 . A structural member according to  claim 23  wherein the first meshing element includes at least three prisms in a side-by-side arrangement providing at least two first meshing element engagement cavities and the second meshing element includes at least two prisms, each prism of the second meshing element configured for locking engagement in adjacent first meshing element engagement cavities. 
   
   
       25 . A structural member according to  claim 24  wherein the plurality of second meshing element prisms are connected to an adjacent prism via an arm of a hinge disposed intermediate the prisms. 
   
   
       26 . A structural member according to  claim 23  wherein ends of the first meshing element are configured to be locked together. 
   
   
       27 . A structural member according to  claim 23  wherein the first meshing element is designed to be rolled up when disengaged from the second meshing element. 
   
   
       28 . A structural member including:
 a first meshing element having two prisms designed to be disposed in a side-by-side arrangement wherein a space between the prisms defines a first meshing element engagement cavity, each prism having a prism body with a hinge arm extending a predetermined distance therefrom, each prism body having a hinge spaced apart from the hinge arm, each hinge arm configured for releasable engagement with an adjacent prism of the first meshing element;   a second meshing element having two prisms designed to be disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, wherein a space between the prisms defines a second meshing element engagement cavity, each prism having a prism body with a hinge arm extending a predetermined distance therefrom, each prism body having a hinge spaced apart from the hinge arm, each hinge arm configured for releasable engagement with an adjacent prism of the second meshing element; and   a prism of the second meshing element is designed to be retained in a first meshing element engagement cavity and a prism of the first meshing element is designed to be retained in a second meshing element engagement cavity such that the first and second meshing elements are movable into locking engagement and each meshing element extends a substantially parallel to each other.   
   
   
       29 . A structural member according to  claim 28  wherein each first meshing element prism hinge arm is configured to engage with a hinge of an adjacent first meshing element prism, and each second meshing element prism hinge arm is configured to engage with the hinge of an adjacent second meshing element prism. 
   
   
       30 . A structural member according to  claim 28  wherein a first prism of the first meshing element and a first prism of the second meshing element are configured to releasably engage with a locking plate having a pair of outwardly extending arms configured to engage with hinges of the first prisms of the first and second meshing elements. 
   
   
       31 . A structural member according to  claim 28  wherein the first meshing element includes at least three prisms in a side-by-side arrangement providing at least two first meshing element engagement cavities and the second meshing element includes at least two prisms providing at least one second meshing element engagement cavity, each prism of the second meshing element configured for locking engagement in adjacent first meshing element engagement cavities. 
   
   
       32 . A structural member according to  claim 1  wherein each arm of each hinge is fixedly attached thereto.